This lesson discusses the sociologist C. Wright Mills and his view on the power elite and the sociological imagination. In this lesson, you will also discover what the term sociological imagination means and how it relates to social issues.

Knowledge and Power

C. Wright Mills was a sociologist who believed that knowledge was the crucial element to social change. He was a hugely influential, radical social theorist. One example of his works, which supports this distinction, is his legendary book on social power. In 1964, the Society for the Study of Social Problems established the C. Wright Mills Award. This award is given to the individual whose work 'best exemplifies outstanding social science research and a great understanding of the individual and society in the tradition of the distinguished sociologist, C. Wright Mills.'

He felt society needed to change - and that change would come through those who had knowledge and used it properly. He felt that critical thinking was the means of obtaining this crucial knowledge and, thus, used this thinking to create what he called the sociological imagination.

C. Wright Mills was a social-conflict theorist

The Power Elite

C. Wright Mills was a social-conflict theorist who argued that a simple few individuals within the political, military and corporate realms actually held the majority of power within the United States and that these few individuals made decisions that resounded throughout all American lives. To look at an example of the hierarchy of power, imagine a triangle with the executive branch, military leaders and corporate leaders at the top; interest group leaders, legislators and local political leaders in the middle; and, then, the common masses (the everyday people) at the bottom.

Mills wrote The Power Elite, identifying certain individuals as the 'national upper class' that own most of the country's wealth, run its banks and corporations, are in control of the universities and mass media and staff some of the highest ranking positions within government and courts.

Mills further explained that these elites often move fluidly between positions within the three controlling realms. For example, Hillary Clinton moved from the position of first lady to that of senator to secretary of state. Mitt Romney moved from the corporate world to governor and even presidential candidate. Mills noted that these power elite usually were people who interacted with each other regularly and typically held the same political and economic views or agendas.

Many power elite theorists actually argue that there is not such a thing as a true democracy because these few individuals have so much power that the wishes of the average people cannot be heard. These theorists believe that those at the top are so distant from the average people and that they are so powerful that there isn't any true competition for them. Thus, they usually tend to get what they want.

Personal Troubles and Public Issues

Government, military, and business leaders are at the top of the power hierarchy

C. Wright Mills once stated that 'It is the political task of the social scientist…to translate personal troubles into public issues.' What does this mean exactly? How are personal problems a matter of public issues? These might be two questions that you are asking yourself after reading this quote. Let us look at exactly what C. Wright Mills meant by this statement and how it applies to you, to your community and to society as a whole.

In order to get a better understanding of how personal troubles are linked to public issues, and in order for one to grasp a better understanding of their own personal lives, one must first fully understand that there is a link or a connection between the public and the private. One must see the difference between what trouble is and what an issue is.

To Mills, trouble is an individual's character and with those limited areas of social life of which he is directly and personally aware. An issue, then, is matters that transcend these local environments of the individual and the limited range of their life. Basically, a personal trouble has to do with the individual, and to resolve the trouble, one must look at the character and life of the individual. Issues, then, have to do with society and some element within it.

For example, if you have one person who is unemployed then you look at that individual's skills and abilities to try and resolve the problem. This means that the trouble of unemployment is caused by something within the individual. However, if you have 14 million people unemployed, then this is beyond the individual and is now a social issue. This issue cannot be corrected by focusing on only the individuals, but must be resolved by looking at the bigger social elements involved.

The Sociological Imagination

So just how, exactly, does one make the connection or see the link between the personal and the public? C. Wright Mills stated that to do this, one must use critical thinking skills, such as the use of the sociological imagination. The sociological imagination is defined as an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society. This awareness, then, allows us to make the connection of what is happening to us personally to the wider, broader social world. This imagination allows us to go beyond personal observations to understand the more complex social issues.

For example, let's look at the issue of divorce. When looking at divorce through the lens of one's personal troubles, divorce is very difficult on the individuals involved - emotionally, financially and even spiritually. Divorce is a personal hardship for the husband and the wife involved (not to mention the children, as well). By using the sociological imagination, we can see that divorce is not just a 'simple' personal problem for those individuals involved, but one that has consequences on a social level.

Looking at divorce sociologically, we can see that with the rise in divorce and with the increase in blended families, divorce has actually redefined a crucial social structure - that of family. Today, the nuclear family is not the only type of family that exists within society. We now have a society that has connections and issues between family members in blended families, stepparents, step-siblings, half-siblings and single parent families. On a broader scope, divorce then becomes a public issue, reaching its tentacles to affect schools, government agencies, businesses and even religious institutions.

The sociological imagination allows us to become more active participants within our own society, for it allows us to better understand what is going on and how various parts of society and the individuals within society are affected. As we become more aware of the effects, we then can become a catalyst for change.

Lesson Summary

C. Wright Mills was a social-conflict sociologist who studied the power structure within the United States. In his work The Power Elite, Mills explained how just a few individuals within the government, military and corporate worlds held most of the wealth and power within the country.

He stated that due to these power elite, the average people within the United States were simply not in true control as taught to us according to democracy. Many theorists believe that the United States does not have a true democracy simply because of the great power held within the select power elite few.

Mills also believed that knowledge was the key to promoting social change. He believed it is the job of all social scientists to connect individual problems with greater social issues in order to create changes that would solve the problems.

Mills coined the term sociological imagination, which means awareness between one's self and the broader social world around them. Mills believed that when a link or connection was found between individual problems to greater social issues, one could better understand their own lives and social change could come about to create a better society.

Learning Outcome

This lesson will help you to better understand how to:

Recognize who C. Wright Mills is and how his ideas contributed to sociology

Define who 'The Power Elite' are and how it's argued that they shape democracy

Discuss how individual problems can be public issues

Define the sociological imagination and how it helps us connect individual problems and public issues

Summary:

Earning College Credit

Did you know… We have over 200 college
courses that prepare you to earn
credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the
first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn
credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.

Videos, quizzes & homework help

Watch 5 minute video clips, get step by step explanations, take practice quizzes and tests to master any topic.

Did you know?

Study.com has a library of 550,000 questions and answers for covering your toughest textbook problems

Students love Study.com

I love the way expert tutors clearly explains the answers to my homework questions. Keep up the good work!

- Maritess, College Student

Study.com video lessons have helped over 30 million
students.

Students Love Study.com

"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"

- Ashlee P.

Students Love Study.com

"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"

- Ashlee P.

Earn College Credit

"I aced the CLEP exam and earned 3 college credits!"

- Clair S.

Family Plan Includes

Free parent account

Add one or more paid student subscriptions

View individual student lesson progress

Monitor quiz scores

Receive weekly email status updates

Over 65 million users have prepared for
{{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other
exams on Study.com

Teachers Love Study.com

"The videos have changed the way I teach! The videos on Study.com accomplish in
5 minutes what would take me an entire class."

- Chris F.

Teachers Love Study.com

"It provides a quick and engaging way to cover material needed to understand readings we are covering in class."

Teresa P.

Ohio, United States

"It provides a quick and engaging way to cover material needed to understand readings we are covering in class."

Teresa P.

Ohio, United States

"A teacher friend recommended Study.com for social studies. I enjoy assigning the videos to my students. The videos are short, to the point, and the quiz allows me to test their knowledge on whatever subject in social studies I am teaching at the time."

Nancy A.

Ohio, United States

"Every time I have searched for a lesson, there has been a perfect match to my needs as a middle school teacher of science, and algebra."

Kathy S.

New Jersey, United States

"Your lessons are very well developed, especially the videos that use analogies for scientific phenomena. Great way to memorize science concepts."

Lusy D.

California, United States

"I love the way the lessons are laid out in small chunks with quizzes to make sure you understand a concept before moving on. Excellent!"

Brandy K.

"I am a 7th-grade teacher and often use it for language arts and world history. The students find it quite engaging. On a professional note, it has helped me pass 2 out of the for 4 Single Subject CSET English Exams! Now I am using it to help me pass the last 2 subtest exams."

Scott S.

California, United States

"As a math/science tutor I find these lessons extremely helpful when introducing concepts to my students or reinforcing what they have been taught."

Tim H.

Barbados

"I like that students can retake quizzes until they achieve a perfect score. I also like the
ability to create "guided note templates" from the transcripts of each video lesson."

Jaime B.

Teacher, High School 9-12 Computer Science

West Plains, MO

Over 65 million users have prepared for
{{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other
exams on Study.com

Over 65 million users have prepared for
{{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other
exams on Study.com